NASHVILLE — Will Levis led touchdown drives on both of his series as the Tennessee Titans beat the San Francisco 49ers 17-13 in the preseason opener for both teams Saturday night at Nissan Stadium.
The two scores were a product of not only two big special teams plays, but efficiency in operating a new offense under first-year head coach Brian Callahan, the former Cincinnati Bengals offensive coordinator.
“We had no penalties until the second half, so that was really cool to see. We’ve got a couple of things we’ve got to clean up. But that was our number one goal, and I felt like we did a good job,” Levis said of the offense.
Levis, who took over as Tennessee’s starting quarterback midway through his rookie season last year, was 4-of-5 passing for 35 yards and capped the team’s first possession by scoring on a sneak.
The 49ers opened the game, going 74 yards in 11 plays with Jordan Mason scoring from 4 yards out. Brandon Allen started at quarterback for the 49ers, who did not play starter Brock Purdy nor any of their first-team skill-position players on offense.
“For the most part, I don’t play any starters in the first game, if you look at the history of how we’ve done it,” 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan said. “So that’s usually how we are. Sometimes I might feel differently, based on how things are going, but nothing’s changing so far this camp.”
Tennessee answered with a big assist from special teams. On the Titans’ first return using the NFL’s new kickoff rule, Kearis Jackson broke free through the center of the line for a 63-yard return. The 49ers were penalized 15 yards for sideline interference, setting the Titans up at the San Francisco 15. It took seven plays, and a defensive holding penalty against the 49ers, before Levis scored Tennessee’s first touchdown on a 1-yard sneak.
After forcing a punt by San Francisco on the next series, the Titans got the football back, and Levis directed a longer scoring drive, taking the Titans 64 yards in seven plays. Levis hit Calvin Ridley for a 22-yard catch-and-run play on third down to get the drive going. Later, newcomer Tony Pollard added runs of 8 and 24 yards on the touchdown drive that was capped by Tyjae Spears’ 4-yard run on the first play of the second quarter.
“Anytime you can come out and put two scores on the board just to start out with our offense being a new unit with new faces, I think is a positive,” Callahan said. “It’s nice to have success in preseason games. I think it’s important to sustain success and build some winning habits.”
Third-string quarterback Malik Willis directed a drive in the fourth quarter that ended in a 34-yard field goal by rookie kicker Brandon Narveson.
The 49ers answered with a touchdown drive that ended with Joshua Dobbs’ 6-yard run into the end zone. The 49ers went for two points but were unsuccessful.
Titans backup linebacker Chance Campbell, whose play has been limited to just four games in two years due to injuries, had a big first half with a sack, three other tackles and a hit on special teams. He also intercepted a Hail Mary from Dobbs on the final play of the game.
“It’s awesome being healthy,” said Campbell, who tore his ACL during his rookie season, then reinjured the knee four games into last season. “I was just flying around, having fun and playing defense.”
Tennessee backup defensive tackle Keondre Coleman had a sack and a forced fumble.
With running backs Christian McCaffrey and Elijah Mitchell not playing in the game for the 49ers, Mason used the game against the Titans as a nice homecoming. Mason, who played high school football at Gallatin, about 25 miles north of Nashville, rushed six times for 34 yards for the 49ers in the first quarter, including the touchdown run for the game’s first points.
The Titans’ switch from a run-based offense that featured Derrick Henry for the past several seasons to a pass-friendly system was evident on the stat sheet.
The Titans threw the football 29 times, completing 19 for 198 yards between quarterbacks Levis, Rudolph and Willis.
More importantly for the Titans, the offensive line held up well. Tennessee’s only sack allowed came when Willis attempted to scramble and was stopped for a 1-yard loss by Kalia Davis. The offensive line yielded 64 sacks last season and was a point of emphasis in the offseason with the hiring of Callahan’s father, Bill, as that group’s position coach.
“Guys were up and on their stuff. I felt well protected out there,” Levis said of the line’s play.
The 49ers twice stuffed the Titans on fourth-and-1. The first one came on a replay challenge that overturned a run by Hassan Haskins that would have set up first-and-goal at the 1. That came in the second quarter on Rudolph’s first series at quarterback while guiding the second-team offense.
The second stop came just across midfield when the 49ers stuffed running back Jabari Small at the San Francisco 49 with 4:32 to play in the game.
Shanahan said after the game that 49ers cornerback Ambry Thomas broke a bone in his forearm.
“It’ll be some time. That’s all we’ve got right now,” Shanahan said.
The Titans have joint practices this week on Wednesday and Thursday with the Seattle Seahawks ahead of next Saturday’s preseason game against the same team at Nissan Stadium. Tennessee will wrap up the preseason with an Aug. 25 road game against the New Orleans Saints.